To the editor:

In the June 15 Journal-World, a letter to the editor (“Misdirected Funds”) suggested that “the powers that be” at the University of Kansas should convince private donors to use their contributions for “more justifiable purposes,” such as offsetting staff cuts resulting from state budget reductions.

When it comes to charitable giving, donors are “the powers that be.” About 95 percent of all contributions to the KU Endowment Association are designated for a worthy project or fund. For example, using the $1 million gift from the Robert H. Malott family for any purpose other than the new Malott Gateway for which the Malotts have designated their contribution would be a serious breach of trust.

The June 19 letter to the editor (“Inappropriate Plan”) suggests that the expenditure of private funds for this project “seems inappropriate at this time.” With private gifts, KU Endowment must accept them when they are offered or lose them. Tapping the Malott gift or any private funds to make up for the state’s budget shortfall would also blur the distinction between state and private support of KU. It would strike at the very core of the mission of KU Endowment, which is “to build a greater university than the state alone can build.”

Gifts for the Malott Gateway and projects like it will benefit current and future generations at KU. Let us not start down the path of questioning the validity of another individual’s charitable gift decision solely because of budget decisions enacted by the state. Through KU Endowment, generous friends and alumni of KU use private dollars to complement not replace tax dollars. The outcome is “a greater university” we can all be proud of.

Dale Seuferling,

executive vice president

for development,

KU Endowment Association